The leader of Boston’s archdiocese allowed a child-molesting priest – who openly advocated man-boy love – to run a Catholic hostel in New York City, church documents released yesterday reveal.

And Bernard Cardinal Law also was prepared to recommend to the Archdiocese of New York’s then-leader, the late John Cardinal O’Connor, that the Rev. Paul Shanley be allowed to permanently run the Leo’s House guest residence on West 23rd Street.

Law and his predecessor, Humberto Cardinal Medeiros – despite knowing Shanley had been accused of molesting kids – also allowed the priest to work in Boston and California churches where Shanley had access to children, according to the documents.

The Boston archdiocese was put on notice in 1978 that Shanley, known then as a radical “street priest” who counseled wayward youth, had spoken at a conference of people in favor of sex between men and boys.

Church officials also were told by doctors who treated him that he did not deny having sex with young boys – yet they continued to recommend him for various religious posts, the documents show.

“An outrageous pattern is evident here,” said Roderick MacLeish, a Boston lawyer who is representing an alleged victim of Shanley’s in a lawsuit.

“Archdiocese officials at the highest level knew full well of Shanley’s misconduct. There’s no evidence that they gave one whit of concern for the victims – rather they went to outstanding lengths to keep Shanley’s past hidden.”

MacLeish used the words “monster” and “serial child molester” to describe the 71-year-old Shanley, who worked as a volunteer at the San Diego Police Department until he was fired last week. He could not be reached for comment.

The lawyer said he is aware of about 30 men who say Shanley molested them.

One of them, his client Gregory Ford, 24, claims in a suit that Shanley raped him from ages 6 to 11.

Another five alleged Shanley victims reportedly have received financial settlements from the archdiocese.

Shanley was a rebel during his tenure in Boston, openly advocating homosexuality.

In the mid-1990s, Shanley worked in New York for several years as acting director of Leo’s House, a Catholic-affiliated hostel in Chelsea that is open to clergy and travelers.

In 1997, Cardinal Law wrote a letter addressed to Cardinal O’Connor supporting Shanley’s bid to be named permanent director of Leo’s House. Law noted in the letter that naming Shanley to the post could bring “greater notoriety” to the hostel.

Law’s letter was never sent, reportedly because he learned that O’Connor would not approve of Shanley taking the post.

Joseph Zwilling, spokesman for the Archdiocese of New York and a former adviser to O’Connor, said that although O’Connor had been honorary chairman of the Leo’s House board of directors, he had no authority over its hiring.

An administrator of Leo House, which is not run by church officials, could not be reached for comment.